Pneumatic thread remover



May 6, 1952 c; c. BEATRICE ETAI.

PNEUMAT C THREAD REMOVER Filed Feb. 5

MWVMMWH! I INVENTORS GABRIEL G. BEATRlCE ALEXANDER O. KRUKONIS ATTORNEY Patented May 6, 1952 PNEUMATIC THREAD REMOVER Gabriel C. Beatrice, Shrewsbury, and Alexander 0. Krukonis, Auburn, Mass., Crompton & Knowles Loom Wor assignors to Worcester,

Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Application February 5, 1951, Serial No. 209,390

This invention relates to improvements in pneumatic thread removers and it is the general object of the invention to provide means carried preferably by the transferrer arm of a weft replenishing loom to prevent rebound of the thread remover away from its thread pick-up position.

A form of pneumatic thread remover mechanism which has gone into general use employs a carrier pivoted on the transferrer arm stud of a weft replenishing loom magazine and a thread remover on the carrier. A stud extending laterally from the transferrer arm over a part of the remover depresses the latter when the tansferrer arm has a downward working stroke on a replenishing beat of the loom to lower the remover to thread pick-up position. In some instances however the thread remover tends to rebound in an upward direction to a position where it is not able to pick up the thread of the outgoing bobbin.

It is an important object of the present invention to provide the transferrer arm with means which exert a downward force on the thread remover mechanism when the transferrer arm has completed its downward or transferring stroke, the effect of the force being to resist upward rebound of the thread remover away from the thread.

In the preferred form of the invention the means on the transferrer is a spring plunger having a part for engagement with the remover mechanism and a spring which is under com pression when ;the transferrer arm reaches its, low position. As the transferrer arm starts up on its return stroke the spring expands to enable the plunger to continue to exert a downward force on the remover and prevent its upward rebound after the transferrer arm has moved away fom its low position.

In the modified form of the invention the means for exerting the downward force includes a weight mounted for limited free sliding movement on the transferrer arm. The weight due to its inertia will have an upward movement relative to the transferrer arm when the latter starts a working stroke, but as the latter continues the weight starts to move down and by its momentum exerts a force on the remover tending to prevent upward rebound thereof.

In both forms of the invention the means for exerting the downward force on the remover is mounted on the transferrer arm for movement relative to the latter and forces stored in the means incident to a working stroke of the transferrer arm are exerted at the end of the working .stroke to prevent upward movement of the re mover and thereby enable the latter to remain in low pick-up position to remove the thread.

With these and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the inven- 12 Claims. (Cl. 139-256) tion resides in the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein two forms of the invention are set forth.

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of part of a Weft replenishing mechanism having the preferred form of the invention applied thereto, associated parts of the loom .being shown in section,

Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan view looking in the direction of arrow 2, Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a detailed vertical section on line 3-3, Fig. 2,

Fig. 4 is a vertical section on line 44, Fig. 2,

Figs. 5 and 6 are diagrammatic views showing the manner of operation of the preferred form of the invention,

, Fig. 7 is a view similar to a part of Fig. 1, but showing the modified form of the invention,

Fig. 8 is an enlarged vertical section on line 8-8, Fig. 7. f

Figs. 9 and 10 are diagrammatic views illustrating the manner of operation of the modified form of the invention, and

Fig. 11 shows a setting for the spring plunger different from that shown in Fig. 1 wherein the spring of the plunger is normally expanded.

Referring more particularly to Fig. 1, the loom frame I has secured thereto a stand 2 which supports a reserve bobbin magazine M. The magazine may be pivoted on a stud 3 secured to the stand 2 so that it can be rocked by well-known mechanism not shown herein to effect bobbin transfer from either of two stacks of reserve bobbins (not shown), The loom lay 5 is provided with a shuttle box 6 to receive a shuttle S from which a weft thread T will extend from the shuttle box toward the selvage of the fabric being woven when the shuttle is at the magazine end of the loom.

Stand 2 has securedthereto a stud l 0 on which is pivoted a transferrer arm I I normally in raised position. When the shuttle in box 6 is to .be replenished by a bobbin drawn from the magazine M the transferrer arm will have a downward working stroke as the lay moves forwardly, to the right in Fig. 1, to press a full bobbin into the shuttle and simultaneously push out of the shuttle the empty bobbin to-which thread T is attached. It is desirable to remove this thread and this result is effected as set forth herein by a well-known form of pneumatic thread remover.

Mounted pivotally on the stud I0 is a thread remover mechanism designated generally at R and including a carrier l5 having laterally extending front and back wings l6 and II, respectively, in which is slidably mounted a rod l8. Secured to the rear end of this rod is a pneumatic thread remover tube IS the lower end of which is formed with a hook 20 extending downwardly behind a thread intake mouth 2|. The tube'is connected to a hose 22 which extends upwardly from tube l9 and is connected to mechanism not shown herein but, effective to create subatmospheric pressures within the tube IS. The rod I8 and the tube l9 are held yieldingly in rearward position by a spring 23 surrounding the rear part of the rod. Under normal conditions the thread remover mechanism is in the normal idle raised non-pick-up position shown in Fig. l.

Extending laterally from the transferrer arm.

is a positioner P including a stud 36 having an eccentric bushing 3! secured to a reduced extension 32 thereof. The eccentric bushing overhangs a part 33 of the carrier l5. A friction washer 35, see Fig. 2, is held against the carrier by a. spring 36 which in turn is forced against the washer by nuts 31. The carrier is held against. the hub 38 of the stand 2 which cooperates with the. friction washer to hold the carrier in. any position to which it may be moved.

When the transferrer arm has a working stroke toward thread T, or downwardly as shown herein, the eccentric bushing will engage and rock the carrier I5 in a counterclockwise direction around stud lfi as viewed in Fig. 1 to lower the tube l9 toward the thread to place the hook 29 behind it, see for instance Figs. 2 and 5. A stop ii secured to the loom frame engages a stop lug 4i onthe. carrier to limit downward motion of the thread remover and the carrier. As the lay moves rearwardly after a replenishing operation the hook, 20, which may be embedded in pile fabric, material 62 on the lay, will pick up the thread T and the latter will be drawn pneumatically into the intake mouth and the tube [9 and along the hose 22. During the first part of the rearward motion of the lay the transferrer arm will have an upward return motion back to normal position. As the lay approaches its back center position a rod 4 will rise to engage a part of the carrier and raise the latter to reset it to its normal position.

As already stated it is observed in some instances of operation of the matter thus far described that when the thread remover reaches its low thread pick-up position such as shown in Fig, 5 it has a tendency to rebound upwardly which may result from engagement of the lug H with the stationary stop A slight amount of upward rebound will move the hook 2i? above the thread T and the latter will therefore not be removed from the loom. It is the general purpose of the invention set forth herein to provide simple means to maintain the hook in low position so that it can pick up the thread T as the lay moves rearwardly subsequent to a bobbin transferring operation.

In carrying the preferred form of the invention into effect a support 50 is secured by screws 5| in angularly adjusted position on the laterally extending stud and has secured to the upper end, thereof, as by screws 52, a guide 53 which maybe made of sheet metal and bent to provide top and bottom guides 54 and 55, respectively, for a rod or plunger 55 slidable through the guides. Thelower end of the plunger has a. head El between which and the lower guide 55 is located a compression spring 5%. Limiting or stop nuts 55 on the upper part of the rod or plunger 55 engages the upper guide 54 to limit downward motion of the head 51' under action of the spring 58.

Under normal conditions the parts will be as shown in Fig. 1 with the spring 58 under some compression, this compression being maintained by'the. friction disk. 35, andthe nuts .55 will-be above the upper guide 54 as shown more particularly in Fig. 3. When a bobbin transferring operation occurs a transferrer arm will move down as described and carry the support 50, guides 54 and 55, and the spring plunger with it as the thread remover R- is moved to pick-up position. When the transferrer arm completes its downward working stroke the spring 58 will still be under some compression, and as the transferrer arm starts back on its return stroke, as indicated in Fig. 6,. the spring 58 will expand to hold the head 51 against the carrier 15 a sufficient length of time to arrest upward rebound of the thread remover. The latter will therefore remain in its low thread pick-position and the hook 20 will be able to engage the thread T as the lay moves rearwardly. The transferrer arm will move upwardly and carry the spring plunger with itduring thefirst part of the rearward stroke of the lay after a replenishing operation, but the thread remover will be returned to its high position at a later time in the loom cycle by upward movement of resetting rod 44. When the parts are reset the part33 of carrier [5 will be close to positioner P and spring 58 will be compressed.

It will not be necessary in every instance to have the spring 58 permanently under compression. As shown in Fig. 11 the part-33 of carrier l5 is farther belowthe positioner P than as shown in Fig. 1 when the parts are in their normal reset position, and spring 58 is fully expanded and exerts no downward force on the carrier tending to move itdown against the. action of the friction washer. When the parts are thus set the spring 58 is compressed during the first part of the down motion of the transferrer arm, after which the position engages the carrier to move the latter to pick-up position.

In the modified form of the invention much of the structure already described may be used, but instead of the spring a weight 65 surrounds the lower part of a rod 66 similar to rod 56: having a head 6'1 to support the weight. Stop nut 68 similar to nuts 59 limit downward motion of the weight and rod with respect to the guide'53 which may be the same as that described in connection with the preferred form of the invention. The weight can be either fixed to or slidable on the rod 66, but is shown herein as being slidable.

When the parts are in the normal position shown inv Fig. 7 the stop-nut 63 will be. above guide 54 and the weight will preferably be. spaced below the guide 55. As the transferrer arm starts down on a bobbin changing working, stroke the inertia of the weight will cause it to lag behind the transferrer arm until it is engaged bythe descending guide 53, after which the latter will cause the weight to move downwardly with the transferrer' arm. As the transferrer arm-reaches its lowest position as shown diagrammatically inFig. 9 theweight will still be up against the guide 53, but gravity and the momentum of" the weight willcause the latter to continue moving downwardly relative to the transferrer armduring the first part of the return stroke of the latter, and during the time the transferrer arm is rising to the position shown diagrammatically in Fig. 10 the weight will exert adownward force on the carrier l5 to prevent its upward rebound.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the invention sets forth simple means carried by the transferrer arm for exerting a downward force on the thread remover mechanism tending to resist: its upward rebounding. In the preferred form. of the. invention the downward force is exerted by a spring plunger mounted for vertical movement on the transferrer arm, whereas in the modified form of the invention the downward force is exerted by a weight having a limited free movement relative to the transferrer arm. In both forms energy is stored in a means carried by but movable with respect to the transferrer arm, and this energy is expended downwardly when the transferrer arm reaches the end of its working or transfer stroke. The support Sill is angularly adjustable on the stud 30 to afford adjustment between the carrier I5 and the lower endof either of the rods 56 or 66. This adjustment may be altered to vary the downwardly exerted force if such variation is found necessary.

Having thus described the invention it will be seen that changes and modifications of the foregoing specific disclosure may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed as new is:

1. In a weft replenishing loom having a thread to be removed and a bobbin transferrer arm having a working stroke toward the thread on a replenishing beat of the loom, a pneumatic thread remover mechanism normally in idle position spaced from the thread and mounted for movement to pick-up position relative to said thread, a positioner moved by the transferrer arm effective when the latter has a working stroke to move the remover mechanism to thread pick-up position, and means additional to said positioner mounted on the transferrer arm for movement relative thereto moving with the transferrer arm on a working stroke thereof and effective to exert a force on the remover mechanism resisting movement thereof away from said thread.

2. In a weft replenishing loom having a thread to be removed and a bobbin transferrer arm having a downward working stroke on a replenishing beat of the loom, a pneumatic thread remover mechanism normally in idle raised position moved down to pick-up position relative to the thread by the transferrer arm on a working stroke thereof and tending to rebound upwardly from said pick-up position, and means on the transferrer arm movable relatively thereto and effective subsequent to completion of said working stroke to exert a force on said remover mechanism resisting upward rebound thereof.

3. In a weft replenishing mechanism having a thread to be removed and a bobbin transferrer arm having a downward working stroke followed by an upward return stroke on a replenishing beat of the loom, a pneumatic thread remover mechanism normally in idle raised position moved down to pick-up position relative to the thread by the transferrer on a working stroke of the latter and tending to rebound upwardly from said pick-up position, and means mounted for vertical movement on the transferrer arm moving downwardly relatively to the transferrer arm on a working stroke thereof and effective during the first part of the return stroke of the transferrer arm to exert a downward force on said remover mechanism resisting upward rebound thereof.

4. The mechanism set forth in claim 3 wherein said means includes a spring plunger engaging the remover mechanism during the working stroke of the transferrer arm.

5. The mechanism set forth in claim 3 wherein said means includes a spring plunger having engagement with the remover mechanism during 6 the firstpart of the return stroke of the transferrer arm.

6. The mechanism set forth in claim 3 wherein said means including a spring under compression during the work stroke of the transferrer arm effective to expand during the return stroke of the transferrer arm to exert said downward force on the remover mechanism.

7. The mechanism set forth in claim 3 wherein said means includes a weight mounted for movement on the transferrer arm acting due to momentum thereof at the end of said working stroke of the transferrer arm to exert said downward force on the remover mechanism during the first part of the return stroke of the transferrer arm.

8. The mechanism set forth in claim 3 wherein said means includes a guided weight mounted for limited free vertical movement relative to the transferrer arm and having a downward movement relative to the transferrer arm at the end of said working stroke to exert said force on the remover mechanism.

9. In a Weft replenishing mechanism having a thread to be removed and a bobbin transferrer arm having a downward working stroke followed by an upward return stroke on a replenishing beat of the loom, a pneumatic thread remover mechanism normally in idle raised position moved down to pick-up position relative to the thread by the transferrer on a working stroke of the latter and tending to rebound upwardly from said pickup position, and means on the transferrer arm having energy stored therein incident to the working stroke of the transferrer arm expending said energy on the remover mechanism to resist rebound of the latter during the first part of the return stroke of the transferrer arm.

10. In a weft replenishing loom having a thread to be removed and a bobbin transferrer arm having a working stroke toward the thread on a replenishing beat of the loom, a pneumatic thread remover mechanism normally in idle position spaced from the thread and mounted for movement to pick-up position relative to said thread, a positioner on the transferrer arm effective on a working stroke of the transferrer arm to move said thread remover mechanism to thread pickup position, a'support secured to the positioner in angularly adjusted position thereon, and means additional to said positioner mounted on the support for movement relative to said transferrer arm effective on a working stroke of the latter to exert a downward force on said thread remover mechanism resisting upward movement thereof from said pick-up position.

11. The mechanism set forth in claim 10 wherein said means includes a spring plunger slidable on said support.

12. The mechanism set forth in claim 10 wherein said means includes a weight on a rod slidable on the support.

GABRIEL C. BEATRICE. ALEXANDER C. KRUKONIS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

